Buffalo Bills News - November 27, 2003

For Fassel and Mitchell, Not Many Happy Returns [5:16 AM]New York Times reports:
'Mitchell's punt-return average of 4.1 yards is the poorest in the league, and his kickoff-return average of 20.5 yards is 18th in the National Football Conference among 20 returners.'

Toomer commits a Giant boo-boo [5:15 AM]New York Daily News reports:
'"Theoretically it's supposed to be a home-field advantage, it just hasn't been that way," Toomer said. "But not because we don't deserve it. We haven't been playing to our expectations."'

Fassel deflects Mitchell's fire [5:13 AM]New York Daily News reports:
'All Mitchell would say yesterday was, "I've said all I have to say." Monday night he complained of "too much uncertainty around this locker room" and how "nobody talks, nobody communicates." He also accused the staff of making him a "scapegoat," even though "I've been the hardest-working player all year."'

Can't 'stand' it [5:12 AM]New York Post reports:
'"They're not going to be real excited to see us and they're not going to be the most patient people if things don't go right in the first quarter," receiver Amani Toomer said of the fans, who have endured four losses in five Giant home games. "We know that. Once you know what you have to deal with it's not going to shock anybody around here."'

Toomer's two that got away [5:11 AM]New York Post reports:
'The most frustrating part for Amani Toomer was that when he looked at the Buccaneers' defense, he did not see the same dominant unit that made opposing offenses shudder.'

Annoyed Fassel Clears Air With Miffed Mitchell [5:10 AM]New York Newsday reports:
'"I don't want that going on and we don't need that," Fassel said he told Mitchell. "I said, 'The comment you said in the paper? That these things should not be aired in the newspapers? OK, it shouldn't be aired in the newspapers.'"'

Live With QB's Flaws [5:09 AM]New York Newsday reports:
'How bad has it gotten for the Giants? Two words have seeped into talk radio chatter: Jesse Palmer. Here is a two-word response: Forget it.'

Fassel orders Mitchell to keep whines in-house [5:08 AM]Newark Star Ledger reports:
'"Winning is a great deodorant," Fassel said. "I know that when you get into a situation like this, there are things that arise that don't usually arise and that's my job to manage those things. That's the way it is."'

Record aside, Collins is very thankful [5:07 AM]Newark Star Ledger reports:
'"In our world, it's very easy to get wrapped up in wins and losses, but you've always got to try to remember what's really important," Collins said. "Obviously, being in the position I'm in, I'm able to do these kinds of things and I feel like it's important to do, especially around the holidays."'

Bills coach could be lame duck [5:06 AM]Newark Star Ledger reports:
'"These guys are very good professionals," he said. "They understand that 24 hours after the ballgame you have to spit out the bitter taste and get on to the next opponent; and we are working very hard on getting ready for the Giants."'

Inside slant [5:05 AM]CBS Sportsline reports:
'Donahoe doesn't want to turn this final stretch into a glorified tryout process for 2004 but would like to see the Bills iron out some of their problems so there's a positive feeling going into the off-season. "We'll evaluate everything when the season is over," he said. "We still have five games to play and this team has shown it has a lot of fight. There's no reason to think that's going to change."'

Strategy and personnel [5:04 AM]CBS Sportsline reports:
'The Giants were a playoff team a year ago but are reeling for a lot of reasons, No. 1 being a sudden inability to protect the football. In Jim Fassel's first six seasons, the Giants were a plus-23 in turnover differential, but this season they are a minus-8. Consider Buffalo's minus-11 and this game easily comes down to what team makes the fewest mistakes. The Bills and Giants have a combined 22 lost fumbles. The Bills have been horrendous on the road protecting the football, committing 31 turnovers against only five for their opponents during their 1-8 road record dating back to last season. The Giants are giving up 328 yards per game so Buffalo should be able to move the football, but it absolutely can't stop itself with mistakes and hope to win. Defensively, the Bills match their No. 4 pass defense against New York's No. 4 passing offense and can win this battle with pressure on the inconsistent Kerry Collins.'

Notes, quotes, anecdotes [5:03 AM]CBS Sportsline reports:
'17 -- Number of runs of 10 yards or more than Travis Henry has had in his last five games.'

These turkeys might not live past Thanksgiving [5:02 AM]Fox Sports reports:
'You can argue that no team plays with passion when it can't move the ball on offense. Tell that to owner Ralph Wilson. He ripped the players and coaches after a loss to the then-winless New York Jets on Oct. 12, saying his team sleep-walked and showed no emotion or enthusiasm. He went on to say that at least Cincinnati, a team the Bills had beaten one week earlier, was aggressive the way his team used to be. Those are not the words Williams, who is in the final year of his contract, wants to hear. Wilson hasn't been as outspoken publicly since the loss to the Jets, but his assessment of where this team stands certainly hasn't improved.'

The Bills Now Have A Roster Spot With Aiken's Season Over [5:01 AM]WGR-AM reports:
'Travis Henry and Eric Moulds are not on the injury report, but were held out of practice. Jeff Posey worked some on the side, Mike Pucillo, Sammy Morris with a knee and Angelo Crowell all didn't practice. Those four players as well as Clarence Coleman are questionable for the Giants game.'

November 26, 2003

Henry seconds Winfield's critique of Bills offense [7:05 PM]AP reports:
'''It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that,'' Henry said. ''There's a lot of things that we could've been doing early in the season but we weren't. But it comes to a point, I guess, where you've got to point the fingers at somebody.'''

Sam Aiken Placed On I.R. [5:58 PM]BuffaloBills.com reports:
'Aiken appeared in five games for the Bills this season and caught five passes for 49 yards.'

Bills and Giants Similar [5:57 PM]RNews.com reports:
'"We've both committed football sins, so to speak," said Buffalo defensive tackle Sam Adams. "Turn the ball over, not get enough turnovers, that kind of thing."'

Losing is a Shock [5:56 PM]The Sports Network reports:
'The Giants have a world of talent on offense, but the team that was supposed to be very explosive this season has failed to produce as expected. From penalties and dropped passes to breakdowns on the offensive line and untimely injuries to RG Rich Seubert and TE Jeremy Shockey, the Giants' offense has been hampered in one way or another all season long.'

Skid at four [5:55 PM]The Sports Network reports:
'"We finally got in the end zone a couple of times, but it just wasn't enough," said Bledsoe, who is 2-0 in his career against the Giants. "We just have to keep working at it. That is what we get paid to do. This is the ugly part of this business. When you don't win it can get ugly. We come back and go to work and do everything we can to win next week. But this is the hard part of this business for sure."'

Disappointing foes meet at Giants Stadium in Week 13 [5:54 PM]The Sports Network reports:
'"We have to come out and win every week," said Williams, who is feeling the heat in Buffalo. "That's how we approach this week. That's how we approach every week. Our guys battle, they play very hard and prepare hard."'

Bledsoe leaves practice with upset stomach [5:52 PM]AP reports:
'``He's just sick,'' coach Gregg Williams said. ``We sent him home and we'll see how he is tomorrow. He practiced the first part of practice. We just took a precautionary thing. There is a bug going around.'''

Sick Bledsoe sent home by Bills [3:15 PM]Rochester D & C reports:
'It is believed to be flu-like symptoms, so Bledsoe was not be added to the injury report. He was expected to return to work Thursday for the Bills’ Thanksgiving Day practice.'

Rookie Club Thankful to Help Others [12:19 PM]BuffaloBills.com reports:
'"It's a great thing just to be around the kids," Mario Haggan said. "It's much easier than going to practice because the kids and the people in the community love you. Continuing to play and being able to give back to the community is just one of the blessings that I receive from playing football."'

McGee turns the corner for Bills [8:53 AM]Buffalo News reports:
'"It's exciting, but it's kind of nerve-racking, too, because you don't want to let your team down," said McGee, who was drafted in the fourth round last April. "With them putting me in the nickel it just gets me a little more comfortable with the defense. I'm actually getting my feet wet out there playing."'

Bills fans face prospect of taking a hike [8:52 AM]Buffalo News reports:
'Loyalty: We can still win one. Maybe.
Common Sense: Would you keep going to a restaurant that served lousy food? After a while, why punish yourself?'

An annual tradition [5:15 AM]CNN/SI reports:
'The Bills, like the Patriots before them, are having trouble protecting the immobile Bledsoe, who often likes to hold onto the ball for an extra second or two to try to make a big play downfield. By the time the second half of the season rolls around, Bledsoe is probably too shellshocked to produce a decent quarterback rating and his team's hopes for a championship slip away.'